Judith E. Retchin
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2010 - Present
15
Judith E. Retchin was a judge for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.[1] She was appointed to the court by President George H.W. Bush in 1992 and retired from the court on December 3, 2010. Retchin took on senior status later in 2010.[2][3][4]
Education
Retchin received her undergraduate degree from George Washington University in 1974 and her J.D. from Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law in 1978.[3]
Career
Prior to joining the court, Retchin was a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.[5]
Controversy over sentencing
In October 2004, Judge Retchin sentenced a quadriplegic man, Jonathan Magbie, to ten days in a D.C. prison for possession of marijuana which he said was to relieve the discomfort of his disability. Magbie died on day four of his sentence. Magbie's family expressed outrage and accused Retchin of murder.[6]
Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure investigation
The District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure received several complaints against Retchin.[7] Several of Magbie's family members argued that although the deceased had broken the law, the maximum sentence (10 days in prison) handed down by Retchin was too harsh.[6]
The investigation cleared the judge of any wrongdoing, because:
- prior to sentencing, she reached out to the Chief Judge to inquire whether the prison could accommodate Magbie's needs;
- the sentencing was within Federal Sentencing Guidelines; and
- the judge had full discretion and authority in sentencing. The harsh sentence was a result of Magbie being in a car with a loaded gun and traces of cocaine.[7]
Following Magbie's death, Retchin said in a statement that she believed the convicted's needs would be met in prison.[6]
In 2008, the District of Columbia, an insurance company and several private contractors settled a civil suit brought by Magbie's mother, Mary R. Scott, for an undisclosed sum.[8]
See also
External links
- District of Columbia Courts, Judges: Judith E. Retchin
- Official website of the Superior Court of D.C.
- The District of Columbia, Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure: Determination - Judith E. Retchin
Footnotes
- ↑ Judges of the Superior Court of DC
- ↑ Judicial Nomination Commission, "Notice of Judicial Vacancy Created by the Retirements of Honorable Kaye K. Christian, Brook Hedge and Judith E. Retchin," August 31, 2010 (dead link)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 District of Columbia Courts, Judges: Judith E. Retchin
- ↑ LegalTimes.com, District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission, Record of Recommendations 5/8/1975-9/30/2011
- ↑ Washington Post, "Judges Brook Hedge, Kaye K. Christian and Judith E. Retchin to retire from D.C. court," September 1, 2010
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 FreeRepublic.com, "Disabled Man Dies in D.C. Jail," October 9, 2004
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure, "Honorable Judith E. Retchin 2005 Determination," accessed November 13, 2015
- ↑ The Washington Post, "City Settles in Death Of Paralyzed Inmate," December 3, 2008